ONE FOR THE AGES? Powerhouse Duke and Cinderella Butler slug it out for all the marbles in Indianapolis Complete game recap at sanfordherald.com
TIGER TALKS IN AUGUSTA SPORTS, Page 1B
The Sanford Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
QUICKREAD
ELECTION 2010
TOYOTA RECALL
Opinions split on LCS direction Candidates defend, criticize current school board at chamber forum By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
TOYOTA TO BE FINED A RECORD $16 MILLION The government is seeking to fine Toyota a record $16.4 million, accusing the Japanese auto giant of hiding a “dangerous defect” in its slow reporting of faulty gas pedals that have been blamed for unintended sudden accelerations and motorists’ deaths
SANFORD — Two different camps of candidates vying for three seats on the Lee County Board of Education emerged at Monday’s Public Policy luncheon: those looking to continue on the board’s current path
and those wanting change. The candidates introduced themselves and presented their points at the luncheon’s debate, sponsored by the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce, in preparation for the May 4 election. Former school board candidates Mark Akinosho and
Kim Lilley and new candidates Shannon Gurwitch and Dana Atkins all said they would like to see greater parent involvement in education, improving the district’s graduation rate and reinstating teacher assistants.
See Election, Page 7A
ZOMBIES INVADE SANFORD
Council questions $93K clean-up
STATE EASLEY AIDE PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL RAP A former aide to ex-North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley pleaded not guilty to dozens of federal corruption charges Monday, setting the stage for a trial that hasn’t been scheduled yet
Officials ask city manager why expenditure wasn’t shared with them
PERDUE PROPOSES A PACKAGE OF REFORMS
Gov. Beverly Perdue on Monday floated a package of reforms she will ask the General Assembly to pass this year as Democrats who run nearly all of state government seek to act against a perception of ethical taint
By BILLY LIGGETT bliggett@sanfordherald.com
Page 8A
“In most every measure, the BB&T rate was more favorable,” said Ted Cole of Davenport and Associates, which helped the county pick the right plan. Cole presented the
SANFORD — The City of Sanford on Friday spent more than $93,000 to remove several years-worth of swept-up debris from its compost facility after the state said it could no longer be dumped there. But the problem with the large expenditure, according to some members of the Sanford City Council, was that nobody knew about it. Sanford Councilmen Mike Stone and Sam Gaskins and Mayor Cornelia Olive met with City Manager Hal Hegwer behind closed doors Monday to express their concerns with Hegwer’s decision to go through with spending nearly $100,000 without their knowledge. “I’m not 100 percent sure he even needs our approval, but I believe we needed notification,” Gaskins told The Herald Monday, adding that the only reason it was brought to his attention was because Olive noticed hauling trucks near City Hall on Good Friday, a day all city employees had off. “The audit was from Jan. 19, and while I understand the city’s done a good job minimizing the costs for
See Package, Page 6A
See Council, Page 6A
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Alan Watkins of Raleigh waits as makeup is applied to “zombify” him while behind the scenes of “A Few Brains More. .. Summer of Blood,” which was being filmed Monday at Old Gilliam Mill Park in Sanford.
NATION MAYHEM, ARRESTS FOLLOW NYC AUTO SHOW Hundreds of young people spilled into midtown Manhattan near Times Square early Monday, brawling and shooting guns after the New York International Auto Show in an annual night of mayhem the mayor called “wilding.”
<<<< ONLINE See The Herald’s video report from Monday’s zombie filming at our Web site, sanfordherald.com.
MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 7A
Page 9A
LOCAL
LEE COUNTY
PITTSBORO TURNS OUT TO TOAST COURTHOUSE
School renovation package OK’d
Page 3A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 79 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
“I feel like our children deserve better. We cannot just stay with the same old, same old.” — Mark Akinosho, challenger
SANFORD
Page 10A
A festive atmosphere Saturday during a “Courthouse Tribute” presented by the Circle City Citizens Group in Pittsboro made the town smile again
“I know where we’ve been, I know where we are and I know where we’re going... We are on the right path.” — Linda Smith, BOE member
15-year financing plan recommended, costing nearly $20M By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — The Lee County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved BB&T’s financing package for renovations to Lee County High School.
HAPPENING TODAY n The Lee County Horticulture Plant Sale will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Lee County High School’s greenhouse. All plants will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
County Manager John Crumpton recommended the 15-year financing plan to the board. It comes with a 6.4 percent taxable rate each year; by May 2025, the county will have paid $19,980,000. BB&T and Bank of America each submitted bids.
High: 90 Low: 61
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Matthew Bates, 25; Edna Brogden, 89; Ed Cox, 80; Ruth Gassaway; Betty Hancock, 85; Berene McLeod, 79; Dianna Punch, 65; Loretta Rockwell 85
Power-hungry homeowners’ associations have become a problem in North Carolina
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ....................... 7B Comics, Crosswords.......... 5B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B